Cushion for sheet-metal presses



Jan. 6, 1931; I F. J. Ron:

CUSHION FOR SHEET METAL PRESSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1929 Jan. 6, 1931. F.. J. ROBE CUSHION FOR SHEET METAL PRESS ES Filed May 25,1929 4 sheets-shat 2 Jan. 6, 1931. F. J. RODE 7,

' CUSHION F'OR SHEET METAL PRESSES Filed May 25. 1929 o 4 Sheets-Sheet a Jam. 6, 1931. F. J. Rope cusruou FdR SHEET METAL nmssss 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May is, 1929' I l 7 V N Z Mm m ww m w i Pa tented Jan. 6, V I I um-rsnf s'ra'rss PATENT :oEFicarnanarcn J. BODE,'OF c'rncaeo, ILLINOIS, assrenon. r nnmeuu'r'rn r001. a are.

comrm, or cnrcaeo, rumors, a conroaa'rion or rumors y CUSHION FOR SHEET-METAL PRFSSES Application filed 25, 1929 Serial 1W0. 865,961.

This invention relates in general to cushioncooperates, with a die or work holding ele- -ing devices for presses of the character in ment 14, the latter being mounted upon the which the metal is shaped by means of 00- bed of the press. operating dies, one of whichis reciprocable Beneath the press is arranged a cushion em toward and away from the other, the workbodying a cylinder mounted upon a suitbeing clamped or'held by means of a blank able support 16, which latter in turn is supor work holding element which co-operateS ported preferably from the bed of the press 1 with the reciprocable die member, the blank by means of hangers 17 Within the cylinder,

or work holder being resisted in its move- 15 is a reciprocable piston 18 towhich apiston ment in one direction by a pressure pad, the rod 19 is connected, and the piston rod 1n latter being resisted by the said cushion, and turn is connected with a pressure pad 29 upon one of the objects of the invention is to prowhich a pin or projection 21 rests, and which Vide improved means for controllin the repin or projection passes through the bed turn of the pressure pad whereby t 'e latter plate and is connected with. a co-operatmg may be prevented from directly returning blank or work-holding element 22. An nilm- V with the ram of the press or the co-operating ber of these pins or projections 21 may e prodie, when thelatter starts to move away from vided. the work. I v The ram-12 is reciprocable preferably by A further object is 'to provide improved means of links 23 connected with a crank shaft 1 means for controlling the return of the pres- 24 and connected to the shaft is a fly wheel'25.

sure pad from a movable part of the press. All of the above referred to parts are of the To the attainment of these ends and the'aoordinary and well known construction. complishment of other new and useful objects" The cylinder 15 is provided with an outlet as will appear, the invention consists in the opening 26 preferably arranged adjacent the features of novelty in substantially the conbottom thereof and communicating with this struction, combination and arrangement of openin is a valve casing or chamber 27 the several parts hereinafter more fully dewhich is provided withan opening 28 which and in which in Figure 1-.

scribed and claimed and shown in the acconbv serves as an outlet'for the liquid from the pany'in'g drawings illustrating this invention, cylinder 15 and the casing 27 is also pro a Y vided with an opening 29 which serves as an Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation, partinlet for the liquid to the cylinder. ly in section and partly .broken away of a Communicating with the o ning28 1s a cushioning device of this character conipe 30 which receives a supp y. of li uid 31 structed in accordance with the principles of i i-om a container or receptacle 32; fluid this invention. supply pipe 33 has communication with the 3 Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of a por-. container 32 preferably adjacent the top tion of the controlling means showin the thereof and in the ipe 33 is arranged a presparts in a different position from that s own sure regulating va ve 34 of any desired con- I struction and a pressure-indicating gauge35. Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional The fluid enters the contamer i2 above the view of a controlling valve. liquid 31, the'hei ht of the liquid being in- Figure 4 is a view similarfto Figural of a dicated by the m icatorgauge 36, and forces modified form ofthe invention. "the liquid from the container through the Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional pipe 30and through theopening 29'into the view with parts omitted, taken on line 5-5,. cylinder 15 through the opening 26. 96 i ing base ofthe ress, 11 upri hts, 12' a re vent the-1i uid from Figure 4. The opening 29 has communication with -Referrmg more to the di the-pipe 30 and a spring controlled valve 37 g the num 1 deslgmtes the S PP is provided for closing the opening 29-to preowing out of the cylinciprocable ram, 13 a reeiproca le-die which der 15 an into the pipe 30, as shown more 100 clearly in Figure 2, but will open to permitthe liquid to flow from the pipe 30 into the cylinder 15, as shown in Figure 1. x

A valve 38 is provided for closing the point of communication between the opening 29 and the pipe 30 so that when the valve 38 is unseated as shown in Figure 1, liquid under pressure in the container 32- will flow into the cylinder 15, past the valve 38, through the opening 29 to raise the piston 18.

When, however, the valve 38 is seated as shown in Figure 2, liquid cannot'flow into the cylinder 15 when the opening 28 is'closed.

A valve 39 is provided for controlling the opening 28 so that when the opening 28 is closed and the piston 18 is lowered, a pres sure will be created on the liquid in the cylinder, the tendency of the pressure being to force the liquid out of the cylinder back into the container 32. This will be prevented, however by reason of the fact that the valve 37 will be closed under such pressure and also under the pressure of the spring 37, and the liquid can only flow back into the container 32 through the opening 28 when .the valve 39 is unseated.

So longas this valve 39 is seated, pressure will be built .up on the fluid in the cylinder 15 and when such pressure exceeds thepres 39 is seat sure by means of which the'valvc ed, the valve 39 will be opened under such excess pressure and the liquid will escape from the cylinder back into the container.

In order to vary or control the pressure against which the valve 39 is unseated, there is provided a cylinder 40 which is connected with the stem 41 of the valve 39. Supported by the valve casing by means of members 42 is a cross head or member 43 in which a pipe 44 is anchored. To one end of the pipe 44 is connected a piston-45 which operates in the cylinder 40. The pipe 44 opens through the piston 45 to deliver fluid between the piston and the bottom of the cylinder.

To the pipe 44 is connected a pipe 46 through w ich fluid under any desired pressure is. conveyed from any suitable'source of supply. Within the (pipe 46 is a pressure regulating valve 47 an a pressure indicating gauge 48.-

4s the fluid pressure is admitted into the fiyli'nder 40 through the piston 45 the cyliner ,will be moved with respect to the piston and the valve 39 will'be seated to be held against such seat by the fluid pressure inth'e' cylinder. 8 q I Therefore, in order" to vary the pressure against which the valve 39 is seated, it is'only necessary to vary the fluid pressure through the pipe 46 and in the cylinder 40.. y .Assuming the piston 18- in th'e cylinder 15 to be descending from its uppermost position and the valve39 being seated at a predetermined pressure, it will be manifest that when the piston descendsthe valve 37vv will beclosed v This member 50'is and the pressure upon the liquid in the cylinder 15 created by the piston 18 will be exerted upon the valve 39.

When the pressure in the cylinder 15 overcomes the pressure in the cylinder 40 the valve 39 will be unseated and the liquid will flow through the pipe 30 back into the container 32, assuming the valve 38 to be closed. After the piston has reached the limit of its lowermost movement and when the pressure in the cylinder 15 is overcome by the pressure in the cylinder 40, the valve 39 will be seated and the piston 18 will remain in its lowermost position until the'liquid from the container 32 is again forced back into the cylinder 15 .through the opening 26. This will occur when the valve 38 is opened. As-

suming the valve'38 to be open, as shown in 38, which controls the return of the piston 18, ispreferably operated at a time in the cycle of operation of the press as 'to prevent the piston 18 and the pressure pad 20 from immediately followingthe Zram and die 13 when the latter start to ascend. Inother words, so that the piston 18 will be retained for a predetermined period of time at the limit of its'lowermost stroke. This is accomplished by controlling the operation of the valve 38.

It has been found that in some instances the space in which the mechanism for controlling the operation of the valve 38 is located is very limited and therefore itis necessaryto provide a com net operating mechanism which will be e ective in its opera-' tion.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, this valve 38 is controlled from a movable-part of the press, such as the crank shaft 24, through the medium of a rod or link 49 which is connected to the crank and has connected to its other end a reciprocating member 50, which latter is movable in bearmgs 51.

provided with spaced tappets or projections 52-53 secured to the member 50 at any desired point with respect to each other.

Arranged-adjacent the path of movement of the member 50 is a valve casing 54 having a rotatable valve 55 therein.

Connected with the valve casing 54 is a pipe56 which in turnis connected by means of a pipe 57 with'the supply pipe 33, preferf ably through the medium of a coupling 58. l

This coupling 58 has communication with the interior of the container 32 and is provided with an open end 59 through which liqluid may be'supplied to'the tank 32-. A va ve 60 controls the opening 59 so that the air supplied to the container 32 will not escape. g Leading also from the valve casing'54 is a pipe 61 which hascommunication with a cylinder 62' supported preferably by the valve casing 27. Within this'cylinder 62 is arranged a piston 63 having a piston rod 64 connected with and forms the stem ofthe valve 38.

Also within the cylinder. 62 which tends normally to seat the valve 38.

With this improved construction it will be manifest that when the valve 55 is in the position. shown in Figure 3, the pipe 56 which receives a supply of air from the ipe 57 will be opened so that the air will ow through the pipe 56, past the valve 55 into the pipe 61, to .62 on the side of the piston 63 opposite to the side 'on which the spring 65 is located, with the result that when the pressure admitted into the'cylinder 62 'throu h the pipe 61 is greater than the pressure of the spring 65, the valve 38 will be uns'eated. I

When, however, the valve 55 is turned to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, the pipe 61 leading from the cylinder 62 will be placed in communication with the manner preferably by means of a rotatable atmosphere through the medium of an exhaust pipe 66, with the result that the supthrongh the pipe 61 to the cylinder 62 will be cut off and the spring 65 will act through the medium of the piston 63 to seat the valve 38, the air on the bottom side of the piston 63 in the cylinder 62 escaping to atmos here. 1

hus it wi 1 be seen that during the cycle of operation of the press the valve 55 will be alternately operated so as to unseat the valve 38 and also to permit the valve 38 to be seated.

In order .to control the operation of the valve 55 a rocker arm 67 may be-provided which is pivotally mounted as at 68 and is provided with projections 69-70. on opposite sides of the 'arm' one each arranged in the path of movement of the respective projections 52 and 53 on the member'50. A spring 71 co-operates with the rocker arm and valve and tends normally to assist in causing the valve to have a quick action, a stop 72 being provided for preventing the o' eration of the valve beyond a predetermine point.

It will thus be seen that as the member 50 is moved in one direction, that is when it is lowered from the position shown in Figure l, the projection 52 will engage the projections 69 on the rocker arm 67 and move the valve in one direction. When, however, the member 50 is moved in the opposite direction the projection 53 on the member 50 will enis a spring 65 be delivered into the cylinder gage the projection on the rocker arm andmove the valve in the opposite direction.

Obviously by adjusting the projections 52';

and 53 on the member 50 the time of operation ofthese devices may be varied.

' In the form of the invention shown in Fig- "ures 4 and 5, a different form of operating 'mechanismis provided for admitting pressure into'the cylinder 62 to unseat the valve '38 and to permit such pressure to escape.

In thisform of the invention a pipe 73 1s connected with-the pipe 57 and leads to a valve casing 7 4.- Another'pipe 75 leads from the-valve casing 74 to the cylinder 62.

A va1ve 76 is provided in the casing 74 to control'a passage 77 and which passage 77 has communication with an exhaust pipe 78. I V

' A valve 79 is also provided in the valve casing 74 and this valve the casing Springs -8283 respectively co-operate 79 controls a passage 80 which has communication with the fluid supply pipe 75 through a passage 81in with the valve stems 8485 and tend nor-.

mally to seat the respective valves 76 and 79.

A rocker member 86 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as at 87 upon a fixed support and is provided with projections 88-.-89 adapted to alternately engage the valve stems 84- when the mem er 86 is rocked to'open and also permit the respective valves to close.

The member 86 is rocked in any suitable member 90 mounted upon asuitable support 91 and which rotatable member is adapted to be 'actuated from any suitable part of the press, preferably through the medium of a drive chain 92 which passes over a pulley or sprocket 93 secured for rotation with the fly wheel 25.

Connected with the rotatable member 90 are tappets 94-95 preferably inthe form of cams which respectively engage anti-friction rollers 96-97 on the ends of the rocker member 86. Thus as the member 90 is rotated the tappets 94-95 will engage the respective rollers 9697 and rock the member 86. The cams or projections 95 are arranged out of alinement with each other as are also the antifriction rollers 96--97.

An-arm 98 is carried by the member 86 and connected withthe arm is a roller 99 adapted to co-operate with a spring controlled projection 100. Thisprojection or memberlOO tends to assist incausingthe member 86 to continue to travel in the same direction after it has been moved by the cam 95 and also serves as a means for holding the member 86 in a position that it will be engaged by the res ective members 94.

hen the parts are in the in Figure 5, the valve 76 being open and the valve 79 being closed, the air in the cylinder 62 will escape through the pipe 75 through position shown the passage 77 and to the atmosphere through I permit the spring 65 Thus, as the valves 76 and 79 are alternately opened and closed, the operation of the valve 38 will be controlled.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several carts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

-What is claimed as new is i 1. In a press, a pressure pad, an hydraulic cushion for resisting the movement of the pad in one direction and embodying a cylinder and piston movable relatively one with respect to the other, a passage for supplying liquid to the cushion, an outlet through which the liquid is discharged from the cushion, variable resistance pressure creating means for controlling said outlet, valve mechanism for controlling the supply of liquid to the cushion, and fluid pressure controlled means for controlling the last said valve mechanism.

2. In a press, a pressure pad, an hydraulic cushion for resisting the movement of the pad in one direction and embodying a. cylinder and piston movable relatively one with respect to the other, a passage for supplying liquid to the cushion, an outlet through which the li nid is discharged from the cushion, variab e resistance pressure creating means for controlling said'outlet, valve mechanism for controlling the supply of liquid to the cushion, mechanical means tending normally to move the valve in one direction, and fluid pressure controlled means for moving the valve in the opposite direction.

3. In a press, a pressure pad, an hydraulic cushion for yieldmgly resisting the movement of the pad in one direction, a passage for supplying fluid to the cushion, an outlet for discharging the fluid from the cushion, variable resistance pressure creating means for controlling said outlet, an inlet valve for controlling the delivery of fluid to the cushion, fluid pressure means for controlling said inlet valve, a valve for controlling said fluid pressure means, and means automatically operable at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation of the press for controlling the last recited valve.

4. In a press, a pressure pad, an hydraulic cushion for yieldingly resisting the movement of the pad in one direction, a passage for supplying fluid to the cushion,an outlet for discharging the fluid from the-cushion,

variable resistance pressure creating means 'for controlllng sa1d outlet, an 1nlet valve for 1n one direction, variable resistance pressure creating means for the cushion, means for supplying fluid to the cushion and embodying a valve, fluid pressure means for controlling the valve, means embodying a valve for controlling the said fluid pressure means, and means operatively connected with a movable part of the press for alternately moving the said valve in opposite directions.

6. In a press, a pressure 'pad, a cushion for yieldingly resisting the movement of the pad in one direction, variable resistance pressure creating means for the cushion, means for supplying fluid to the cushion and embodying a valve, fluid pressure means for controlling the valve, means embodying a valve for controlling the said fluidpressure means, and means responsive in its operation to a movable part of the press for moving the said valve in one direction to supply fluid to the said fluid pressure means and for moving the valve in another direction to permit the fluid source of fluid supply, valve mechanism for connecting said passage with said supply and with said exhaust and means for automatical- 1y controlling the last said valve.

In a press, a pressure pad, a cushion for yieldingly resisting the movement of the pad 1n one direction, variable resistance pressure creating means for the cushion, means embodying a valve for controlling the supply of fluid to the cushion, fluid pressure means for controlling the valve, thelast said means embodying a passage for the fluid, an exhaust, a source of fluid supply, valve mechanism for connecting said passage with said supply and with said exhaust, and means res onsive to the operation of a movable part of t e press for automatically controlling the last said valve.

9. In a press, a pressure pad, a cushion for yieldingly resisting the movementof the pad in one direction, variable resistance pressure creating means for the cushion, means cmbodyintg with sai valve mechanism.

I fluid supply,

said source of fluid supply,

10. In a press, a pressure pad, a cushion for yieldingly resisting the movement of the pad in one direction, variable resistance pressure creating means for the cushion, means embodying a valve of fluid to the cushion, fluid pressure the valve in one direction, the valve in the opposite means for moving means for actuatlng direction, the first said means also embodying a passage for the fluid, an exhaust, a source of fluid supply, valve mechanism for connecting said passage with said exhaust and also with said source of fluid supply, said valve mechanism embodying a pair of spring controlled valves, means embodying a rocker member for alternately actuating the valves, and means responsive in its operation to a movable part of the press for rocking said member.

11. In a press, a pressure pad, a cushion for yieldingly resisting the movement of the pad in one direction, variable resistance pressure creating means for the cushion,- means embodying a valve for controlling the supply of fluid to the cushion, fluid pressure means for moving the valve in one direction, means for actuating the valve in the opposite direction, the first said means also embodying a passage for the fluid, an exhaust, a source of valve mechanism for connecting said exhaust and also with said valve mechanism embodying a pair of spring controlled valves, means embodying a rocker member for alternately actuating the valves, means responsive in its operation to a movable part of the press for rocking said member, and means for assisting in rocking said member and for maintaining said member in its rocked position- 12. A press, a cushioning device, means for supplying fluid to the cushion, a valve for controlling said supply, fluid pressure means for controlling the valve, said fluid pressure means embodying a cylinder and piston relatively movable, a passage'for supplying fluid to the cylinder and for discharging the fluid therefrom, a source of fluid supply, an exhaust, a valve for connecting said passage with the source of supply and also said passage with with said exhaust, and means automatically for controlling the supsaid rotatable member with source of supply an vidual to said passages of operation of the press for controllingthe a cushioning device, means fluid to the cushipn, a valve plying fluid to the cylinder and for discharging the fluid therefrom, a source of fluid supp y, passage an exhaust, a valve for connecting said with the source of supply and also with'said exhaust, an actuator for the last said valve mechanism, and means operatively connected with a movable part of the press for operating said actuator.

14. In a press, a cushioning device, a passage for supplying fluid to the cushion, a valve for controlling the passage, fluid pressure means for controlling the valve and embodying a passage for supplying fluid, an

exhaust for exhausting the fluid, valve mechanism for connecting said passage with the source of supply and said exhaust, a rocker member for actuating the valve mechanism, a rotatable member for actuating said rocker member, and means operatively connecting a movable part of the press.

15. In a press, a cushioning device, a passage for supplying fluid to the cushion, a valve for controlling the passage, fluid ressure means for controlling the valve an embodyin a passage for supplying fluid, an exhaust or exhausting the fluid, valve mechanism for connectin said passage with the said exhaust, a rocker member for actuating the valve mechanism, and a cam device operatively connected with amovable'part of the press for actuating said rocker member.

16. 'An apparatus of the character described embodying a casing ha'ving two passages therein, spring controlled valves individual tos'aid passages for controlling them, an exhaust outlet, a supply pipe and an additional pipe all communicating with said casing, a rocker member for alternately actuating said valves for connecting said additional ipe with said supply pipe and exhaust out et through said casing, and means for rockin said member.

17 n apparatus of the character described embodying a casing having two passages therein, spr ng controlled valves indifor controlling them, an exhaust outlet, a supply pipe and an additional pipe all communicating with said casing, a rocker member for alternately actuating said valves for connecting said additional pipe with said supply pipe and ex-' haust outlet through said casing, means for rocking said member, and means for assisting in rocking said member and for maintaining said member in its rocked position.

18. An" ap aratus of the character described embo ying a casing having two passages therein, s ring controlled valves in-;

dividual to sai passages for. controlling them, an exhaust outlet, a supply pipe an 'an additional pi e all communicating with said casing, a roc er member for alternately actuating said valves for connecting said additional pipe withsaid supply pipe and ex- 10 haust outlet through said casing, a rotatable member, and formations on said rotatable member for alternately engaging'and rock- 'ing saidrocker member in opposite directions.

19. An apparatus of the character described embodying a casing having two passages therein, spring controlled valves individual to said Passages for controlling them, 7 an exhaust out et, a supply pipe and an additional pipe all communicating with said casing, a rocker member for alternatelyactuating said valves for connecting said additional pipe with said supply pipe and exhaust outlet through said casing-means for rock- 5 ing said rocker member, an arm on said rocker member and a resiliently yielding element engaging and cooperating with said 7 arm for yieldingly holding the rocker member in its rocked position.

20. An ap aratus of 'the character described embo ying a casing having two passages therein, spring controlled valves individual to said passages for controlling them, an exhaust out et, a supply pipe and an addi- 35, tional pipe all communicating with said casing, a rocker member for alternately actuating said valve for connecting said additional pipe with said supply pipe and exhaust outlet through said casing, a rotatable member, and

m cam projections on said rotatable member for alternately engaging and rocking said rocker member in opposite diregons, said cam projections being laterally? set from each other. v s p In testimony whereof'I have signed my name to this specification, on this 1st day of May, A. D. 1929.

FREDRICH J. RODE. 

